Maize header



B. GREGORY MAIZE HEADER March 5, 1929.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18, 1927 March 5, 1929. a. GREGQRY 1,704,083

MAI ZE HEADER Filed July 18,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 um 67 '9" L T C) Y jA n 'M A Inventor I (0 Zip? Gwqdwy 14 H0 rngy March 5,1929.

B. GREGORY MAI Z E HEADER Filed July 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 frwenzormen one Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GORY, or VERNON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR or snvnlv-srxrnnntrns T G. W. mm-

BEE AND ONE-EIGHTH ro IVLG. POTEET, BOTH or'vnnnolv, TEXAS.

7 MAIZE HEADER.

Application filed July 18,

The present invention relates to a maize header and aims to provide anetlicient'and reliable structure for heading maize and the like bysevering the heads from the stalks and conveying said heads upwardlyinto a receptacle or the like.

Another.important object of the invention lies in the provision of astructure of this nature wherein a plurality of rollers are arranged inpairs and one of the rolls s ofeach pair is movable away from the otherfor closing an electric circuit to cause the release of a latch so thata spring-actuating knife may cut the stalk.

A still further important object of the invention resides in theprovision of a structure of this nature which is simple, compact,convenient, accessible, not likely to easilybecome out of order, andotherwise. well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. I

With the above and numerous other obj ects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features ofconstruction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as willbe. hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the forward portion ofthe machine,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the forward portionof the machine,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the forward portion of the machine,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail top plan view of a portion of themachine,

Figure 5 is a perspectiveview of the rear portion of the machine,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the rollers,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the knives,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the gears for the knives.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it Wlll be seen that the letter Fdenotes a frame formed of channel irons having a front cross member 5,sides 6 extending rearwardly therefrom, and merging into inwardly andrearwardly converging end portions 7 which are attached at theirextremities to a beam 8 by suitable means 9. Wheels 10 aremounted' onaxles 11 projecting from the sides 6 of the frame and have annular gears12 attached front portion 5 of the frame F.

1927. Serial No; 206,571.

A plurality of fingers 14 have depending bracket portions 15 attachedby'means of" 'ject forwardly thereof. and terminate in points as isclearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. These fingersare adapted toreceive the maize stalks therebetween as themachine moves forwardly.Rollers 17 and '18 are mounted on the fingers being arranged in pairs,one roller 17 and one roller 18 in each pair., The. rollers 17 aremounted for rotation in bearings 19 which are. rigidly'mounted on thefingers and haveoperatively connected therewith spiral gears QOi'neshingwith spiral gears 21 The rollers 18 have rigid pintles 22 at theirforward ends which are journaled in bearings 23. having bolts 24depending therefrom through slots 25 in the lingers. Stop lugs 26 risefrom the fingers and haveopcnings to receive stems 27 from the bearingsand springs 28 are disposed about the stems impinging against thebearings and the stop lugs to hold the bearings 23 in predeterminedpositions. have sockets 29' with notches 30 radiating therefrom andpintles 31 are receivable in the sockets and have radiating keys 82receivable in the notches 30 so that the rollers 23 maybe rocked to oneside at their forward ends. The pintles 31 are. journaledin fixedbearings On each pintle 31 there is a spiral gear 34 meshing with aspiral gez r 21. Each spiral gear 21' ismounted on a shaftSS journaledin the frame portion 5 and havina beveled gear 36 on its lower endmeshing with a bevel gear 37 on a. shaft 38 journaled through the sideportions 6 of the frame and having gears 39 on its extremities whichmesh with the inter nal teeth of the annular gears 12. A spiral spring40is mounted on each shaft 35 above the frame and has one end fixed tothe shaft and the other end fixed to a knife 41 fixedon a gear 42 bymeans of screws or in any other suitable manner. This knife 41 has aprojecting portion 44. A latch 45 is pivoted in a bracket 46 and aspring 4'? is provided for the disengagement of the latch 45 from thegear 42. p i

The brackets 46 extend downwardly from aplatform 49 mounted across theframe immediately to the rear of the upper portion of the frame member5; Anelectro-magnet- 50 is mounted on the platform 49 and when en Therear endso'f the rollers'lS fit ergized, attracts the free end of thelatch so s to engage the same can the gear 42. An arm 53 is mounted oneach bearing 23 and has con ac 5d thereon engageable with a conta t 55on a bracket 56. The springs 28 nor: mahy hold the bearing 23 so thatthe contacts spaced from the contact and these on are contacts 5d ad 55,therefore are in open circuit with their respective electro-magnets 50.hen the machine moves along and the lks pais between the rollers it willbe seen that the rollers 18 will be swung away from the rollers 17 so asto close the circuits, to energize the electro-m a gncts 50 to engagethe latches from the gears thus causing the springs l0 to be wound up sothat the knives rotate very quickly when once released and insuresevering of the main stalks.

it will be noted from Figure 5 that the beam 8 is extended rearwardlyand has a platform (it) on the rear end thereof. The wheel 61 isjournaled in a fork 62 from which extends a vertical. shaft- (idjournaled through therear portion of the beam immediately in front ofthe platform. A whiftletree 65 is mounted on the beam immediatelyforward of the shaft 64. A handle 65 for steering purposes is mounted onthe upper end of the shaft 64.

An endless conveyor 68 is trained about rollers 69, one of which isjournaled between the sides 6 and the other of which is journaledbrackets 70 rising from the rear ends of the sides 6, so that the rungsof the endless conveyor incline upwardly and rearwardly. This endlessconveyor receives the maize heads from the platform 49.

It is apparent that the maize heads may be gathered in receptacles, orthe like at the elevated end of the conveyor.

It .is thought that the construction, operation, utility, and advantagesof this invention will u ow be quite apparent without a more de taileddescription thereof. The presentcrnbodimei'it of the invention has beendisclosed in detail merely by way example since in actual practice itattains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable inthestatcment of the invention and the above description. It is apparentthat changes in the de tails of construction, and in the arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

It is to be noted that the lower and forward roller 69 of the endlessconveyor structure has a gear 72 operatively connected there with andmeshing with the external teeth of the gears 12 on the wheels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new is 1. 111 a maizeheader of the class described, a wheeled frame, a plurality of fingersprojecting forwardly from the frame, a plurality of rollers mounted onthe fingers, said rollfrom the circuit. closers.

2. In a maize header of the class described, a wheeled frame, aplurality of fingers projcctlng forwardly from the frame, a plurality ofrollers mounted on the fingers, said rollers being arranged in pairs,means for journaling one roller of each pair so that its axis is rigid,means for journaling the other roller of each pair so that the for-wartend of its axis may be swung to one side, circuit closers operable bythe movements of the second mentioned rollers of the pairs, shaftsjournaled in the frames, gearing 7etwcen the shafts and the rollers,gears on the shaft, knives on the gears of the shafts, springs on theshafts having one end fixed to the shaft and the other end fixed totheknives, pivotally mounted latches engaging the gears on the shaft tonormally hold them stationary, spring means associated with the latchesto hold them engaged with the gears, and electromagnetic means incircuit with the switches for releasing said latches when the latter ofthe pairs of rollers are swung.

In a maize header of the class described, a wheeled frame, a pluralityof fingers projecting forwardly from the frame, a plurality of rollersmounted on the lingers, said rollers being arranged in pairs, means forjournaling one roller of each pair so that its axis is rigid, means forournaling the other roller of each pair so that the forward end of itsaxis may be swung to one side, circuit closers operable by the movementsof the second nicntioned rollers of the pairs, shafts journaled in theframes, gearing between the shafts and the rollers, on the shaft, kniveson the gears of the shafts, springs on the shafts having one end fixedto the shaft and the other end fixed to the knives, pivotally mountedlatches engaging the gears on the shaft to normally hold themstationary, spring means associated with the latches to hold them e11-gaged with the gears, and electromagnetic means in circuit with theswitches for releasing said latches when the latter of the pairs ofrollers are swung, an endless inclined conveyor mounted in the frame toreceive the heads after they are severed from the stalks.

4. In a maize header of the class described, a wheeled frame, aplurality of fingers projecting forwardly from the frame, a plurality ofrollers mounted on the fingers, said rollers being arranged in pairs,means for journaling one roller of each pair so that its axis is rigid,means for journaling the other roller of each pair so that the forwardend of its axis may be swung to one side, circuit closers operable bythe movements of the second mentioned rollers of the pairs, shaftsjournaled in the frames, gearing between the shafts and the rollers,gears on the shaft, knives on the gears of the shafts, springs-on theshafts having one end fixed to the shaft and the other end fixed to theknives, pivotally mounted latches engaging the gears on the shaft tonormally hold them stationary, spring means associated with the latchesto hold them engaged with'the gears, and electromagnetic means incircuit with the switches for releasing said latches when the latter ofthe pairs of rollers are swung, an endless inclined conveyor mounted inthe-frame to re ceive the heads after they are severed from the stalks,a beam extending rearwardly from the frame, and dirigible wheel meanssup porting the rear end of the beam.

5. In a maize header of the class described, a wheeled frame, aplurality of lingers projecting forwardly from the frame, a plurality ofrollers mounted on the lingers, saidrollers being arranged in pairs,means for journaling one roller of each pairso that its axis is rigid,means for journaling the other roller of each pair so that the forwardend of its axis may be swung to one side, circuit closers operable bythe movements of the second mentioned rollers of the pairs, shafts journaled in the frames, gearing between the shafts and the rollers,gears on the shaft, knives on the gears of the shafts, springs on theshafts having one end fixed to the shaft and the other end fixed to theknives, pivotally mounted latches engaging the gears on the shaft tonormally hold them stationary, spring means associated with the latchesto hold them engaged with the gears, and electromagnetic means incircuit with the switches for releasing said latches when the latter ofthe pairs of rollers are swung, an endless inclined conveyor mounted inthe f *ame to receive the heads after they are severed from the stalks,a beam extending rearwz'trdly from the frame, and dirigible wheel meanssupporting the rear end of the beam, a platform on the rear end of thebeam.

6. In a maize header of the class described, a wheeled f 'ame, aplurality of fingers projecting forwardly from the frame, a plurality ofrollers mounted on the fingers, said rollers being'arranged in pairs,means for journaling one roller of each pair so that its axis is rigid,means for journaling the other roller of each pair so that theforwardend of ly mounted latches engaging the gears on the shaft tonormally hold them stationary, spring means associated with the latchesto hold them engaged with the gears, and electromagnetic means incircuit with the switches for releasing said latches when the latter ofthe pairs of rollers are swung, an

endless inclined conveyor mounted in the frame to receive the headsafter they are severed from the stalks, a beam extending rearwardly fromthe frame, and dirigible wheel means supporting the rear end of thebeam, a platform on the rear end of the beam,

a whiflictree adjacent the rear end of the beam.

7. In a maize header of the class described, a frame, a pair of rollersmounted on the frame, means for journalling one roller so that its axisis rigid in respect to the frame, means for journalling the other rollerso that the forward end of its axis may be swung to one side, a circuitcloser operable by the movement of the last mentioned roller, a knife,and means'for controlling the operation of the knife from the circuitcloser.

8. In a maize header of the class described, a frame, a pair of rollerson the frame, means for journalllng the rollers on the frame to permitrelative movement of the rollers to- *ard and away from each other, acircuit closer operable by the relative movement of the rollers, a knifeand means for controlling the operation of the knife from thecircuitcloser.

BIGE GREGORY.

